SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYNDROME

Course overview

SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYNDROME (SIRS) IS AN EXAGGERATED DEFENSE RESPONSE OF THE BODY TO A NOXIOUS STRESSOR (INFECTION, TRAUMA, SURGERY, ACUTE INFLAMMATION, ISCHEMIA OR REPERFUSION, OR MALIGNANCY, TO NAME A FEW) TO LOCALIZE AND THEN ELIMINATE THE ENDOGENOUS OR EXOGENOUS SOURCE OF THE INSULT. DYSREGULATION OF PROINFLAMMATORY AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY PATHWAY HOMEOSTASIS LIES AT THE HEART OF THE CLINICAL SCENARIO WITH THE DYSREGULATED RELEASE OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC PHASE REACTANTS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVOLUTION OF THE DEFINITION AND THE CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYNDROME. IT OUTLINES APPROPRIATE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE SYNDROME AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE AND CLINICAL OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.